A Year-Long Plunder or Gothic Quest

Students will venture out into a time in human history when barbarians plague the Roman Empire. Vikings raid coasts in northern seas, lawless marauders roam through Europe, and thieves lie in wait along the Silk Road, the land route to the Far East. But they’ll also discover the stories behind the Renaissance — a new dawn of knowledge and a time of invention and creativity. They’ll have great times learning about life in castles and on fiefs, the culture of knights and ladies, cathedrals and Crusades. Along the way, they’ll follow the exploits of villains and victors, kings and conquerors. It’s a fantastic plunder quest! Why not come along?

Introducing the Middle Ages

Introducing the Middle Ages

Introducing the Middle Ages

It’s time to get acquainted with the knights and kings, rascals and ruffians who were the movers and shakers of the medieval age. Meander through Rome and early Britain, stand with the Jews at Masada, and travel to the Far East. Watch as the Vikings head out to raid villages; see the Crusaders head for faraway lands; and witness the unfolding of the Renaissance. You’ll get to meet some of the larger than life characters that are a part of world history: the Apostle Paul, Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, Marco Polo, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, William Wallace, Johannes Gutenberg, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and John Hus.

As always, you’ll receive a number of wonderful titles and kits that will accent your study with activities and learning projects. You can devise a da Vinci-type invention, illustrate an illuminated book, make a sundial, play the Viking pastime Hnefatafl , and create your own coat of arms. You can even learn how medieval carpenters used 13-knot ropes to create beautiful arches and other forms as they built. Plus, you’ll go up-close to advances made by Renaissance painters as they found new ways to interpret perspective and draw the human figure. The journey is a fantastic experience!

Quest for the Middle Ages is available in two different sets. Middle grade students will be off on a highly engaging “Plunder Quest,” while Senior High students will dig into an “Gothic Quest.” There are resources that are common to both sets, and some that are designed for midller students or high school students. Your family can choose to do one set or another, or use a combined set for a range of ages! Find out more below on the “Materials” tab.

Are you up for a quest of your own?

Why You’ll Enjoy Plundering & Treasure Hunting in the Middle Ages

Why You’ll Enjoy Plundering & Treasure Hunting in the Middle Ages

You’ll Wander to Times of Castles, Knights & Chivalry!
It’s a pilgrimage that starts with Rome and continues through Viking raids, the Crusades, and on to the unfolding of the Renaissance. Along the way, you’ll experience aspects of medieval life through simple activities, experiments, re-creations and notebooking. Playing games along with the Vikings, determining the destiny of a medieval town, and re-creating da Vinci inventions are just a sampling! Amazing books and interactive resources will make memories for your family that will last a lifetime!

The Plunder Quest 4/8 Set for Middle-Grade Students
Middlers will love joining this medieval quest, going A-Viking with Nordic warriors, riding amongst Mongol hordes, or fighting alongside English longbowmen. They’ll discover medieval life in books like “Archers, Alchemists, and 98 Other Medieval Jobs You Might Have Loved or Loathed!” Middlers will find themselves going inside castles, trying out a trebuchet, painting with Michelangelo, or making their own buckler for medieval battles.

The Gothic Quest Sr. High Set for High Schoolers
Amazing books in this program usher students into Gothic nooks and crannies, encountering medieval trades and working alongside medieval craftsmen, or encountering the painting, sculpture, and architectural treasures of the Renaissance. Resources like “Investigate the Middle Ages” have students trying experiences for themselves, while “Illuminated Lettering” and “Gothic Geometry” get them working on Middle Ages art and architecture using medieval methods!

What Will We Study?

What Will We Study?

Students will study medieval times from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance and the Reformation.

The Spread of Christianity

The Apostles

Early Christianity

The Jews

Great Leaders Used by God in the 300’s

CULTURAL STUDY: The Middle Ages & the Feudal System

The Eastern & Western Roman Empires

The Roman Empire

The Fall of Rome

The Eastern Roman Empire – Byzantium

The Far East in the Middle Ages

CULTURAL STUDY: Towns, Travel & Trade

Living in Medieval Times

Daily Life in the Middle Ages

A Look at Europe

Medieval Missionaries

The Rise of the Franks

Elsewhere in the 900’s

Russia and Czechoslovakia

CULTURAL STUDY: Castles & Knights

The Vikings

Vikings — Medieval Marauders

The Vikings Traverse the Atlantic

CULTURAL STUDY: Warfare

European Changes

England & Scotland

Carnage of the Crusades

Tales of the Royals

The Crusades Cease

CULTURAL STUDY: Kings & Crusades

New Knowledge Ends the Dark Ages

Incredible Developments in the East

Great Men Prepare the World for Renaissance

Tragedies in Europe

CULTURAL STUDY: Health & Medicine

The Renaissance

The Renaissance Begins

Writers of the Renaissance

Painters of the Renaissance

The Medici Family of Florence

Renaissance Innovations

CULTURAL STUDY: Learning

The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci

Meet Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo the Apprentice

Man of Many Projects

The Genius that is da Vinci

CULTURAL STUDY: Art, Food and Fashion

The Reformation

New ideas Pave the Way for Reformation

The Reformation Flames into Light

Ideas for Reform

Reformation and God’s Word

CULTURAL STUDY: The Church

What’s in the Medieval Guide?

What’s in the Medieval Guide?

Your Ancient guide will lead you across desert sands and Mediterranean waters as you travel throughout the Ancient World. The guide is designed to be easy to follow, with each week’s assignments laid out on just one page! The introduction to the guide offers you oodles of teaching helps that may feel like Charlotte Mason just “friended” you — like advice she’d give you on how to grade student work! It’s all here!

A 36-week, 4-day schedule is laid out clearly in a grid-style on just one page

What Materials are Included?

This program is designed for students from 4th to 12th grades. This theme offers two sets of resources: one for 4th to 8th grade, and one for Senior High (9th to 12th). There are resources that are common to both sets, and some that are designed for younger or older students. Your family can choose to do one set or another, or use a combined set for a range of ages!

WinterPromise Exclusives for 4/8 Students:

Quest for the Middle Ages Guide – 4/8 Version

“Make-Your-Own” Medieval History Book

Illuminated Lettering

PLUS! “Men of Iron” Available Only in an Ebook or Mixed Bundle

WinterPromise Exclusives for Senior High:

Quest for the Middle Ages Guide – Senior High Version

“Investigate the Middle Ages” Notebook

Illuminated Lettering

PLUS! “Men of Iron” Available Only in an Ebook or Mixed Bundle

Theme Essential Books – Resources Common to Both Sets

Mystery of History, Volume 2

Famous Men of the Renaissance & Reformation

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids

Medieval Medicine and the Plague

Archers, Alchemists & 98 Other Medieval Jobs You May Have Loved or Loathed!

EARLY CHURCH HISTORY: Trial & Triumph

Theme Completer Books for 4/8 Set

The Medieval World

Great Medieval Projects

Medieval Activity Pack

Blank Book for an Illuminated Book

Theme Completer Books for Senior High

Leonardo da Vinci Inventions

World of Columbus & Sons

Gothic Geometry

CHURCH HISTORY: Christian History Made Easy

CHURCH HISTORY: 100 Important Events in Christian History

Optional Resource for Senior High

A Survey of the New Testament

Can I ‘Go Inside’ Key Resources?

Can I ‘Go Inside’ Key Resources?

Educationally Rich Resources!

Archers, Alchemists, and 98 Other Medieval Jobs You Might Have Loved or Loathed!This fun and lighthearted resource will really tickle your middle-grade learner. The jobs range from the expected — peasant or king — to the unbelievable, like the unfortunate gong farmer who cleaned out latrines. All along the way, students will find fantastically detailed and fun illustrations to support what they learn about each job. There’s so much information about daily medieval life here. And look at just a sampling of the jobs they’ll discover!

Cobbler

Cordwainer

Miller

Pardoner

Constable

Jester

Falconer

Chamberlain

Goldsmith

Apothecary

Polymath

Playwright

Bandit

Minstrel

Troubadour

Torturer

And So Many More!

Leonardo da Vinci for KidsAs a family, you’ll enjoy learning about this ultimate Renaissance man. This intriguing book describes Leonardo’s life while also providing a good deal of historical information about Italy and providing an informative background on art and the Renaissance. You’ll discover how Leonardo used the artistic techniques and materials available during his lifetime — as well as his own unique ideas — to create masterpieces. You’ll get to really delve into his thoughts as you look at high-quality reproductions of his artist’s sketches and paintings! However, students will also gain insight into Leonardo as a scientist, inventor, and humanist. Along the way, you’ll see his detailed sketches of human anatomy (the first of their kind), maps drawn from a bird’s-eye view, and designs for such things as diving suits and hang gliders that weren’t invented until hundreds of years later. A few projects are also included, so you can make a kite based on Leonardo’s drawing of a parachute, cook up his favorite meal of minestrone soup, or grow a Renaissance herb garden. It’s a great study!

What Signature WP Experiences Await Us?

What Signature WP Experiences Await Us?

WinterPromise considers itself a curriculum that embraces the “Experience Approach,” offering Charlotte-Mason style learning opportunities with up-to-date materials that make the most of technology, too. In each WP program, you’ll encounter a lot of our signature “Experiences.” Some of them come in key resources like our exclusive “Investigate the Middle Ages” book, while others are in the guide or hidden in other resources.

Younger Students Will Encounter a Plunder Quest

The Plunder Quest 4/8 Set for Middle-Grade StudentsMiddlers will venture out into medieval times, following along with barbarians, Vikings, lawless marauders, and Mongol horsemen. The journey might include some ill-gotten gain, but it’s all good fun as students experience the Middle Ages.

Enjoy Educationally-Rich Medieval Activities:

Investigate the Fire of Rome

Head Out to the Qumran Caves

See the Devastation at Pompeii

Be a Guest at the Table of Attila the Hun

Fight Alongside the Goths and Huns

Calculate the Muslim Year

Conduct a Grail Quest

Encounter the Monster Grendel

Become a Scottish Pict

Try Tossing the Caber

Train to Be an Architect for Charlemagne

Discover Jousting

Create an Anglo-Saxon Helmet

Build a Mongol Army

Avoid the Plague Like, Well, the Plague!

The Gothic Quest Senior High Set for High School StudentsSenior high students will discover the treasures of the Middle Ages: the weapons, castles and cathedrals, art and royal standards of the time. They’ll be on hand to see the fall of Rome and the rise of the Ottoman Empire and European kings. They’ll travel to fiefs and see how peasants and royals worked the land and protected it. Students will go on to see the increase of medieval trade, the spread of the plague, the invention of the printing press, and the flowering of the Renaissance. As they do, they’ll take time to explore the ideas and inspiration of the creative genius, Leonardo da Vinci and his fellow Italian artisans. It’s a great way to hunt for Gothic treasure!

Investigate the Middle Ages in These Activities:

Put Together a Black Death Autopsy Report

Master the Carpenter’s 13-Knot Rope!

Make a Sundial in Your Hand

Create a Medieval Counting Board

Visit China’s Dunhuang Caves

Sketch Intricate Castle Blueprints for a Baron

Encounter the “Lady of Shalot”

Investigate Falconry

Put Together Your Coat of Arms

Make a Sparring Weapon

Fashion a Viking Brooch

Discover How Much Armor Weighs

Create a Gonfannon

Be There at the Conquering of Jerusalem

Witness the Murder of Thomas Becket

Make a Book of Hours

See How Brunelleschi Constructed the Dome

Try Out the Physics of Stone Arches

Produce a “Medieval Dirty Jobs” Video

How Do I Use Ebook Versions?

How Do I Use Ebook Versions?

While many of our families do enjoy books, most of our ebooks would better be considered resources, rather than the types of books that families typically desire to enjoy as “books.” With all this in mind, not only might our ebooks sets be right for your family, you might just discover that they really offer you a better way to do school! And remember – most of our programs include bonus ebook resources you can’t get any other way! Take a look at the ways you could utilize our ebook resources:

Consumable materials can be printed out looseleaf, and you are able to print as many copies as you want!

Some resources are designed to function as easily flippable “Tablet Books” that look great on a tablet screen, and are in beautiful full color. They are easy to cuddle around, just like books. NOTE! These books function on any device, not just a tablet!

Some resources just offer more functionality, as they jump you to websites and more!

Ebook resources are most often in full color, and look unbelievable on your device!

Almost all resources allow you to customize your experience, whether filling in assignments or printing just the right number.

Take a look at the “Medieval” resources below. Discover how they function as ebooks, and the advantages to making them a part of your library, and then decide!

The Middle Ages 4/8 Guide or Middle Ages Sr. High Guide in Ebook FormatThis guide brings you a wealth of functionality not present in a print guide. Take a look:

Recommended websites link directly to the web on devices that have web access

The Notebooks – “Make-Your-Own” Medieval Book or Investigate the Middle AgesThese resources are easy to print looseleaf, and can be printed as many times as you like for multiple students, offering you a great savings. By having access to this file, you can customize and print only those pages you’ll use, which is especially handy if you have younger students, or student who would rather focus on other aspects of the program. Either way, your students are using it the same way in print or ebook. This is a resource that is in color in ebook, but it can be printed in black and white if you preferred.

Illuminated LetteringYour ebook version comes in beautiful full color, showing fine detail in the illustrations and examples of illuminated works from medieval times. It also allows you to print multiple copies for your student so they can draft their own illuminated work.

What Items are Related to Middle Ages?

What Items are Related to Middle Ages?

Below you’ll find information on products related to Quest for the Middle Ages, including the consumables in the program, language arts programs you might want to consider, and what else to add to complete the learning.

Start by Deciding if You Need Extra of These Consumables in Print:

“Make-Your-Own” Medieval Book or Investigate the Middle Ages

Medieval Activity Pack – For 4th to 8th Grade

Blank Book for an Illuminated Book – For 4th to 8th Grade

Then, Think About Purchasing the “Investigate the Middle Ages” Supply Kit:
We highly recommend purchasing this kit! It will have you creating and experiencing items, art, maps, and more from medieval times. This kit offers a wide array of supplies designed to allow students to complete many of the projects in the student notebook, “Investigate the Middle Ages” in the Senior High set. It includes parchment, cloth, several wooden boxes, a wooden board for a Japanese plaque, a large wooden coat of arms, and even a heavy-duty wooden buckler to practice medieval warfare — plus other unusual supplies! See this sampling of projects to do:

A Four “Alls” Box

Oath of Homage & Fealty

Create a Town Seal

A Sundial in Your Hand

Design a Muslim Robe

Create an Astrolabe

Manor Life Clue Game

Decorative Hairpins

Wooden Coat of Arms

Replica Bayeaux Tapestry

Wooden Warfare Buckler

Suq Storefront Drawing

Muslim Writing Box

Crusader’s Cross

Medieval Life Overview

Japanese Plaque

Aged Silk Road Map

Medieval “Drugstore”

Fashion Exhibit

13-Knot Carpentry Rope

Next, Consider if You Want to Purchase a Coordinating Language Arts Program:Coordinating language arts programs offer scheduled readers that coordinate with this theme and typically offer creative writing or narration suggestions that coordinate with this theme as well. This theme coordinates with:

LA 4 – “Solving the Mysteries of Grammar”

LA 5 – “Digging into Paragraphs”

LA 6 – “Exploring Word Pictures”

LA 7 – “Mastering the Writing Process”

LA 8 – “Developing Your Storywriting”

LA HS 1 – “Intriguing Written Expression”

LA HS 2 – “Creating Captivating Fiction”

Add a “Timelines in History” Book for Each Student if You Haven’t Purchased One
Add Timeline Figures for This Study – See Notebooking Section for Middle Ages FiguresMake Sure You Have a Good Historical Atlas for Mapping
Add a Science ProgramAdd a Math Program

And, If You Want Adventure Reading to Coordinate with Medieval Times . . .
WinterPromise has always included family reading with their themed programs, but as we’ve watched prices on these books go up, we feel it is better to offer parents the option to choose whether or not to purchase these books as part of their program. This way parents have the choice to collect new or used books, borrow them, or take advantage of the advent of personal reading devices and use ebooks on their devices. To give parents more choices, we are no longer including reading books in our themed programs, but listed below is detail about the adventure reading books scheduled for you in your guide. You can still purchase this set from WP as a special order item online.

Forbidden Gates

Hostage Lands

Men of Iron

Son of Charlemagne

Beorn the Proud

The Second Mrs. Giaconda

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Catherine, Called Birdy

Fine Print: Johann Gutenberg

Morningstar of the Reformation

When you’ve learned enough about Middle Ages resources, continue on to our store to order your set, following the steps one by one!

Medieval FAQ’s

Medieval FAQ’s

Why is there both an Middle Ages 4/8 and Middle Ages Sr High?Quest for the Middle Ages is a multi-level program designed to either (a) allow you to keep multiple family members in different age groups studying the same topic, or (b) allow you to rotate through ancient history twice, both in the middle grades and in high school. If you have one student to school, simply choose the correct grade level, and this program works like any other program. But additionally, if you have students of several age groups — middle grades together with junior or senior high — you can keep your family together with this program. A family using both sets will share their history books and adventure reading, so you can complete these together as a family. Website and DVD suggestions sometimes overlap, and notebooking, mapping and timeline building also share some common material. Then, students in separate programs will break off to complete work from their respective resources and activities sets. Much of this work will be independent study. It’s a great way to keep your family creating memories together!

I have several students to school, and one or more of them is younger than 4th grade — will this work for me?This program is designed to work perfectly with multiple students. You will, though, need to plan on some adjustment if you are trying to integrate a younger student. If most of your students fit the recommended target ages for Ancient World (grades 4 and above), it should work fine for you to add a student on who is younger to simplify things for your family. You should be aware that there will be some resources that your younger might have trouble understanding. We’d recommend that you incorporate him or her into family studies that are of interest to his or her age group, and find extra resources on medieval times, Rome, the Vikings, Mongols, and Chines, or the Renaissance or Reformation that are on the easier side, as needed, perhaps from the library. However, if most of your students are younger than the targeted ages, and/or your oldest student is at the younger end of the targeted age range, you may be better suited by starting with one of our younger programs. Another option may be to purchase the Hideaways program, and have your student complete the second quarter of the program, which coordinates with medieval times. This would add some easier resources alongside those that your student enjoys from Quest for the Middle Ages.

What if I’m not a Christian — how can I use one of these packages?You need to know that the main text — Mystery of History Volume 2 — is a Christian resource, and does include some early church history, but that is fairly minor, and quite historical. There is a majority of other history presented in this volume as well, and the author has a fairly straightforward style that would offer your family good discussion about medieval history. In short, we feel this program will easily work for you, and you always have the opportunity to add another main text to this set to tailor it to your needs.

I’ve already got a few of the items in the package. Can I still get the package price and leave them out? We love to offer our package prices to our parents to help them purchase a great program with a great discount. We do, however, have to sell all the items in the package in order to honor the discount. Usually the discount outweighs the value of the resources you might already have. If not, you can choose items individually to build your program, but remember — the purchase of a themed program package ensures you also get reduced shipping, another discount you’ll want to take into account as you look at your total purchase. You may want to consider selling used the items you already own, reselling the new items, giving away the duplicates as gifts, or donating them to a homeschool resource center that serves other homeschool families.

Which of the resources in Ancient World are WinterPromise Exclusives?These resources are WP Exclusives in Ancient World 4/8:

Quest for the Middle Ages 4/8 Guide

“Make-Your-Own” Medieval Book

Illuminated Lettering

Medieval Activity Pack

These resources are WP Exclusives in Ancient World Sr High:

Quest for the Middle Ages Sr High Guide

Investigate the Middle Ages Notebook

Gothic Geometry

Illuminated Lettering

Which of the resources in Middle Ages are used for more than four weeks, other than WP Exclusives?

The Mystery of History, Volume 2

Famous Men of the Renaissance and Reformation

Archers, Alchemists & 98 Other Medieval Jobs You Might Have Loved or Loathed!

Trial & Triumph: Stories from Church History

In the 4/8 Set, the Resources Above, PLUS:

The Medieval World

In the Jr/Sr High Set, the resources above, PLUS:

Leonardo da Vinci Inventions

World of Columbus & Sons

Christian History Made Easy

100 . . . Events in Christian History

A Survey of the New Testament (for Senior High Only)

How do I assign high school credit for the Ancient Sr High program?Some parents are unsure what high school credits are encompassed by our themed programs. They cover all the humanities: history, culture, geography, literature, religion, art, and social sciences. A student who conscientiously completes Middle Ages Sr High can be assigned these credits:

For a year, that totals about 4 3/4 credits, or more than half their yearly requirement. If you add another 1 credit for language arts, 1 credit for science, and 1 credit for math, that completes your student’s year, although you may want to add additional credit for an elective of your student’s choice, such as music, drama, journalism, sports, home economics, volunteerism, or trades like wood shop and so on. Remember, those ¼ and ½ credits add up during the four year high school program. If a student receives a ¼ credit in geography per year, that would be equivalent to taking 2 half-credit courses during high school.

Do You Have A Scope & Sequence for Middle Ages Senior High?
We’ve included information about this theme and how to credit your student in our Quest for the Middle Ages Scope & Sequence, which you can download and print to use in your student’s transcript.